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This fully welded, corrosion-resistant vehicle trailer hitch receiver is perfect for your light-duty towing needs. Draw-Tite's Tested Tough guarantee ensures that this hitch exceeds industry standards. Drawbar sold separately.
Features:
Specs:
Draw-Tite's Tested Tough program provides testing standards far superior to those outlined by the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE), the go-to source for engineering professionals.
Each Draw-Tite trailer hitch receiver undergoes extensive fatigue testing and static testing with the ball mount that is either supplied or recommended for use with that particular hitch, thus ensuring results that are applicable to real life use. Fatigue testing is also conducted on hitches rated for use with weight-distribution systems.
In addition, Draw-Tite performs static testing on a simulated automobile, as opposed to the rigid fixture used for SAE testing, resulting in a more true-to-life scenario.
At etrailer.com we're committed to the products we sell, and to our customers. Our experienced and knowledgeable staff are available via both phone and email to address your questions and concerns for the lifetime of your hitch. The technicians at etrailer perform hitch installations on a daily basis, making them a valuable resource for do-it-yourselfers. The one-on-one, personal service you'll receive comes straight from an expert in the towing and automotive field. We've installed it, we've wired it and we've towed with it, so whatever your question, we can answer it.
Installation Details 
1998 - 2008 Subaru Forester
California residents: click here
Videos are provided as a guide only. Refer to manufacturer installation instructions and specs for complete information.
Today on our 2007 Subaru Forester, we're going to take a look at, and also show you how to install, the Draw-Tite custom fit Class 2 trailer hitch receiver. This offer the inch and quarter by inch and a quarter opening. It's part number is 36311. Here's what our hitch is going to look like installed on the vehicle. As you can see, our cost to remains mainly hidden behind the fascia. It gives us a really clean look.
We've got our receiver to opening and our safety chain connection point's really all that we've got visible. This is a class II, so we've got an inch and a quarter by inch and a quarter opening. Little reinforcement band around there, it's going to give us good strength. Then you can see our safety chain connection points here. These are a role the styles steel, roll the stock style steel. Plenty of room in there to get whatever connected that we might want.
From making our connections or attaching anything to our vehicle, you can see we've got a half inch diameter pinhole right up here. At this pinhole is designed for use with class II accessories to meet the minimum weight requirements. It looks like you're going to have enough room to use pins and clips, anti-Rattle bolts, even locking hitch pins should have enough room there. Class II hitches are really pretty versatile. They are not as versatile as a class read but this is going to allow you to use bike racks, cargo carriers, you can tow trailers with them. The tongue weight rating of the maximum downward force we can put here at the receiver tube opening is going to be 300 pounds.
The maximum gross trailer weight rating, which is the total weight of our trailer and anything we we're to load up on it is 3500 pounds. The hitch is not waited for use with weight distribution and you do want to check the owners manual of the Forester, you want to see what its tow rating is and go off of which ever of those numbers are the lowest. A couple of measurements that are helpful when it comes to selecting ball mounts, bike racks, or hitch cargo carriers will be from the ground to the inside top edge of a receiver to opening, we've got about 13 1/2 inches. From the center of our hitch pinhole to the outermost edge of our bumper is about 4. To begin our installation, we are going to take down the charcoal canister here. For this, we will use a 12 millimeters socket. We need to remove the 2 knots here on the back side.
That will allow us to bring that down out of the way slightly so we can get to the rest of our bolts here. The next bolt we will take out will be right here on the side. This is just a little support bold for our tow bracket there. For this one we will need a 14. Now we can grab our 17 and we need to take out the 3 bolts that run right up our frame rail here. Tow bracket will come off. Here on our driver's side, we've got a bolt here we are going to be removing and to our working forward, these are both of the 14's. Get our exhaust hanger out of the way here and we need to take out the 4 running forward. Now, we will set all of our hardware aside because we are going to be reusing some of it when we reinstall our hitch. We are also going to take down our fascia support bracket, here. Remove the pushpin fastener. Now, we will grab a 10 millimeters socket, we're going to pull the knot off this forward attachment point. Then we can remove the bolt that goes into the back side of the trunk pin. Now, we will use a little bit of spray lubricant here on our exhaust hanger and we want to get that separated. Typically a large screwdriver or a prybar from underneath will get the job done for us. Like that. That's just going to give us a little bit of her to pull that down and get in and install our hardware. Now we are ready to get our hitch raised up into position. We want to guide the drivers side up over our exhaust here. You can see we are going to have to work it around that hanger. It should sit in front of our frame rail and then we will bring our cost to up and over the exhaust. I like to let it sit right there while I take care of getting the bolts in my passenger side. As we do this, we need our hitch to go in the opening and our evac canister bracket. We are going to be sandwiching that between the hitch on the bottom of the car. Now, we will take our new hardware and just get that threaded in. You'll see a conical to washer on there. We want the teeth of that washer to be facing up toward our hitch. We can get 3 or 4 times on that, we will let it rest they are while we get our side started. Now, with both sides started, our hitch will be held in position. We are going to grab our other 5 fasteners and get those put in place. Just be sure that our forward bolt on this side is going to pass through our hitch bracket and also our canister bracket. We can get it threaded in place. Once they are all started, let's just take a quick look to be sure we have our hitch centered. We've confirmed that, start smoking down our fasteners. Now, we need to look in our instructions. There, we will have our torque specifications. We want to get all our fasteners torqued down appropriately. Now, we can raise our evac canister back up into position. We will secure it with the same knots we removed earlier. Now, the inside hanger, we are just going to pass it through right back on the stud it was on. On the outside, here, we are going to use our new bolt. This bolt is going to come with the kit. We will place it on the flat washer, we're going to place it right through our hanger, bring it through the hole in the side of our hitch there, place on another washer, then we've got our lock washer and also a nut that we are going to thread on. Now, we're going to bring our fascia out a little bit to where the plastic tab's on the bottom side. We are going to re-secure it using the pushpin fastener we removed earlier. With our exhaust back in place, that's going to complete our installation of the Draw-Tite custom fit class to trailer hitch receiver, part number 36311 on our 2007 Subaru Forester.
Average Customer Rating: 4.8 out of 5 stars (118 Customer Reviews)
This fully welded, corrosion-resistant vehicle trailer hitch receiver is perfect for your light-duty towing needs. Draw-Tite's Tested Tough guarantee ensures that this hitch exceeds industry standards. Drawbar sold separately.
No hitches installing this hitch, would recommend to anyone wanting something straight-forward and reasonably priced. Been using it on a 2006 Subaru Forester with a Bicycle Rack for up to 4 Bikes. The hitch itself works as expected. 477440
Had the hitch professionally installed, and have used the hitch to attach a small trailer (wood splitter) a handful of times over the past year. Had to have the shank that inserts into the hitch ground to get a good fit, but other than that, this has been a very satisfying investment for me. 428952
Easy installation on my 2006 Subaru Forester. Everything lined up and bolted in place. 411384
Bob R - 07/29/20182002 Subaru Forester Great company, great design. Went on as the video describes. Less than an hour. Three pictures include installed hitch, exhaust bracket and tie downs that come completely off of the vehicle. Everything is included in the box and the instructions, while the drawings are a little technical, are superb! Just read them and you won't have a problem. We will use it to carry our MTBs with a Yakima bike carrier. 417396
Excellent fit up, easy install less than 30 minutes. If I need another this is the one I would buy again. 489546
I put this on my 2007 Forester. Great customer service. The hitch did not have any protective packaging between it and the cardboard box it came in - there was a hole in the box and some of the paint was chipped off as a result but the hitch itself did not appear structurally damaged (will find out when I start towing something I guess). Overall it appears to be a well-built, solid design that fits inconspicuously behind the fascia w/o affecting the approach angle of the rear bumper since it hangs higher than the exhaust (for those that take their subies off road at all). My recommendation would be to install the hitch first w/ the stock bolts to get it into place, then go back through and replace with the new bolts. Reason being the stock ones have a section of unthreaded shaft on the tip that aids in lining it up. The replacement bolts are threaded all the way to the end, making it pretty difficult to start them, especially while trying to hold the hitch in position. You may find it helpful on all these bolts to tape the new washer into place on the hitch so it's not getting in your way as you're starting the bolt. Also, on the most forward passenger side bolt, make sure to get the carbon container bracket perfectly lined up. 516595
Great product, easy install. Took more than hour for me, because I had my neighbors distracting me. All in told about an hour an half. I did discover one trick. We use the help of a floor jack to hold up the hitch as we put the bolts in. It was a big help with jack doing all the work of holding the hitch place. 35090
Hitch seems nice, putting it on a 16 year old car is the challenge! Had some issues with the bolts, but not a fault if the hitch. This is the 4th hitch install I've done and it was the worst. I think it has to do with the way the car is made. 549311
Mike L - 08/03/2018It was a Direct fit which made for an easy install. The hitch is made of quality steel. Fast shipping and received my product with in a few days of ordering it. 560789
I knew nothing about trailer hitches before I purchase one from you. We wanted one for our Subaru Forester so that we could carry our bikes. The shop that installed it had the work done in 45 minutes, so I'm assuming it was pretty easy to install. I am very pleased with how it looks and the bike carries tucks in easily. Thank you to all your customers who provided such detailed reviews to help me make an "intelligent" decision. 168885
Great product, install was easy and came with good quality bolts. 738923
Great hitch! It pulls everything I hook it to. 699667
The hitch was a perfect fit. The instructions were clear and all the parts were there 696274
I didn’t get a chance to use it because I sold the car. The installation was fairly easy. 695409
Excellent product easy to install 677740
easy purchasing easy shipping received promptly 664982
Solid product, seems very well-constructed. Never got to install it due to car troubles, but the quality is evident 656479
nice hitch, and fast delivery 654910
The hitch was high-quality powder coated and fit perfectly. 653579
Used it to go from NY to NO and it worked well. 651969
We have not installed the item yet, but the customer service I received from Gwen was AMAZING!!! I have been in customer service most of my life and she did such a wonderful job answering all my question.She made sure that I ordered the parts that I needed for the job I needed to do. It was so great to get a follow up email letting me know that she had tracked my item and knew that it had been delivered. It is so nice to receive this type of Grade A customer service in a world where you cant even get a interview thank you card or rejection letter from a company you have applied for. Kudos to your company and your staff, especially Gwen for doing such an Amazing job taking care of me. 650614
The best place to buy hitch's, is my second purchase and I am 100% satisfied. Thank you very much 646621
Fast install. Easy. The fit was great. 644900
Not only was the price the best around, I also received a Draw-tite hitch to my surprise. Kit included new hardware and everything needed to install. Delivery was fast and free! I'm very happy with my purchase and will order my future hitch needs through etrailer. 636253
amazing over all experience. easy install with the hitch and the wires. took a total of about 1-1/2 hrs. highly recommend 635193
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